PRESSURE is growing on water and energy companies to help their customers pay their fuel bills.

In a year that has seen utility bills go through the roof - and those living on the breadline increasingly struggling as a result - energy watchdogs now want companies to do more.

Many schemes are being formulated to help the worst-off and water watchdog CCWater is in meetings with regional water companies to discuss boosting awareness of the various services which are aimed at helping customers on low incomes and those with special needs.

A spokeswoman for CCWater said: 'Many customers have difficulty keeping up with ever-increasing bills, in particular people on low incomes or those who use a lot of water.

'Many are unaware of the help available from water companies. We need to find better ways of getting the necessary information to them.'

One energy company which has taken a high-profile approach to promoting its cost-saving initiatives is British Gas. But back in February, British Gas hit the headlines for the wrong reasons - by raising its prices by 22%.

The company blamed the increase on substantial rises in wholesale prices, up more than 70% since September.

In the days running up to the announcement, both EDF Energy and ScottishPower also raised their prices.

News of British Gas' move prompted consumer groups to voice concerns about the effects of the increases.

Energy watchdog Energy-watch called it the bleakest day yet for energy consumers in Britain, while Age Concern said older people needed protection from fuel poverty.

Mervyn Kohler, a spokesman for Help the Aged, said:'An extra 200,000 older people are pushed into fuel poverty when a 10% increase occurs.'

The media furore surrounding the price rises prompted British Gas to launch a scheme enabling customers to fix their energy prices for three years.

Allan Asher, chief executive of Energywatch, said that to pile all the blame on Europe for the crisis in gas and electricity prices was too simple. 'In the debate on the Government's Energy Policy Re-view, and the future of energy in this country, the interests of consumers must be central,' he said.

'That means dealing with problems in the UK market as well as those on the continent. There's been a tendency to shift all the blame for the price hikes to the lack of market freedom in Europe.

'While it is true the slow pace of liberalisation on the Continent has had serious implications for consumers here, the danger of focusing solely on Europe is that the problems right under our noses could be neglected.

'UK gas production is highly concentrated with just seven companies, five of them oil majors, accounting for three quarters of production.'

He added: 'The destructive effects of the higher prices are real, enduring and cannot be over-exaggerated.

'There is enough evidence to show that current energy markets are very damaging to the UK economy.'

Further pressure has been heaped on the Government as a joint campaign has been launched to end fuel poverty.

Child Poverty Action Group, End Child Poverty, the Disability Alliance, Help the Aged, Age Concern, Citizens Advice and National Energy Action have united in calling for more support to help those on low incomes.

A statement from the joint group to Chancellor Gordon Brown said: 'The advent of the £1,000 annual average energy bill is changing a warm home from a basic necessity to a luxury item.'

The charities say between 1996 and 2003, rising incomes were the major factor in the reduction of fuel poverty. They add that the Government has taken a number of key measures to alleviate fuel poverty.

But with predictions of 3m fuel-poor households by the end of the year, the crisis is reaching a level not seen since the 1990s.

Since 2003, average domestic energy bills have risen by 63.3% for gas and 44.2% for electricity, slamming the Government's own commitment to eradicate fuel poverty by 2010 into reverse, say the organisations.

The letter to Mr Brown says it is beyond doubt that 'the unprecedented cost of energy is leaving increasing numbers of households suffering the daily misery of cold, damp homes'.

Families on low incomes and disabled people are as badly affected as vulnerable pensioner households, the letter states.

Average annual energy bills of £1,000 would absorb: n42% of the after-housing income of a single pregnant woman aged 18-25 dependent on Income Support; n16% of the income of a single pensioner dependent on the pension credit minimum guarantee and the £200 Winter Fuel Payment; or n44% of the Disabled Child Element of Working Tax Credit.

The letter, signed by all the charities and Energywatch, adds: 'While we recognise that the Government is committed to tackling this social ill, and that the twin strategies of energy-efficiency and central heating provision are the correct long-term measures for achieving this, there is a clear need to provide immediate respite to make warmth affordable.'

Mr Asher said: 'The fuel-poor have to spend 10% or more of their income on fuel. So it is self-evident they are already on low incomes and struggling to make ends meet. The Government needs to fill that gap and stop the most vulnerable in society being forced to choose between heating and eating.'

Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said: 'Recent hikes in domestic energy prices have put even more pressure on the budgets of families with low incomes.

'Parents should not have to decide between putting on the heating and putting food on the table.'

Michael Lake, director general of Help the Aged, said: 'Last winter more than 30,000 older people died as a result of cold-related illnesses - a figure that could rise even further this year.'